Wellbore top drive systems

a top drive and wellbore technology, applied in the direction of transportation and packaging, functional valve types, borehole/well accessories, etc., can solve the problems of personal injuries, damage to the threads on the end of the drive stem or shaft, and costly down time for the rig

Active Publication Date: 2008-09-02
VARCO I P INC
View PDF33 Cites 31 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In certain aspects, a second connection assembly according to the present invention held in reserve allows the immediate replacement of a connection assembly on site, thereby reducing the costs of rig downtime by reason of a quick replacement. The original connection assembly may then be cleaned and inspected at a convenient pace (repaired if necessary) and set aside for the next field swapout replacement once structural integrity is confirmed.

Problems solved by technology

Improper handling or enormous stresses can damage the threads on the end of the drive stem or shaft.
Such damage can result in personal injuries, costly down time for the rig, and expensive replacement or repair of the drive stem.
The nature of threads is such that the stress at the root of the thread is high and often the thread is difficult to inspect for cracks.
Because the drive shaft is rotating at the time of the misalignment, there is an opportunity for the accumulation of fatigue damage.
This, if severe enough, will result in the initiation and propagation of a fatigue crack.
This can result in the failure of the tool joint.
A failure of the part occurs when a fatigue crack has propagated to the outside of the shaft.
This represents lost income by reason of delays in production and lost billable contractor hours.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Wellbore top drive systems
  • Wellbore top drive systems
  • Wellbore top drive systems

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0051]FIG. 1 illustrates a top drive system 10 according to the present invention which is structurally supported by a derrick 11. The system 10 has a plurality of components including: a top drive 14, (shown schematically) a main shaft 16, a housing 17, a drillstring 19 and a drill bit 20. The components are collectively suspended from a traveling block 12 that allows them to move upwardly and downwardly on rails 22 connected to the derrick 11 for guiding the vertical motion of the components. Reactance to torque generated during operations with the top drive or its components (e.g. during drilling) is transmitted through a movable dolly or other support (not shown) to the derrick 11.

[0052]The main shaft 16 extends through the motor housing 17 and connects to items below the shaft (“stem” or “shaft”—“stem” can include stems and shafts). The shaft 26 is non-threadedly connected to an upper end of an IBOP assembly 24 which is the first in a series of items and / or tubular members coll...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

A drive system for wellbore operations, the drive system, in certain, but not necessarily all aspects, including a main body, a motor apparatus, a main shaft extending from the main body and rotatable by the motor, the main shaft having a top end and a bottom end, and an item, the item non-threadedly connected to the main shaft.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention is directed to wellbore drilling top drive systems and methods of use; parts thereof; and, in certain particular aspects, such systems with a top drive stem that is not threadedly mated to an item connected thereto.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]The prior art discloses a variety of top drive systems; for example, and not by way of limitation, the following U.S. patents present exemplary top drive systems and components thereof: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,458,768; 4,807,890; 4,984,641; 5,433,279; 6,276,450; 4,813,493; 6,705,405; 4,800,968; 4,878,546; 4,872,577; 4,753,300; 6,007,105; 6,536,520; 6,679,333; 6,923,254—all these patents incorporated fully herein for all purposes.[0005]Certain typical prior art top drive drilling systems have a derrick supporting a top drive which rotates tubulars, e.g., drill pipe. The top drive is supported from a travelling block beneath a crown block. A drawworks on a rig fl...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & AuthorityPatents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B23Q5/00
CPCE21B19/16Y10T137/7854E21B3/02
InventorLYNCH, JAMES EDWARD
OwnerVARCO I P INC